it is hard to kick against the goads

Today, in my prayer, God taught me that there is nothing I can do that will "mess up" his plans. Now that I know this, it seems so obvious: the whole Bible is a narrative that shows God's love reigning and overcoming everything, despite the best efforts of both his enemies and his most devoted followers. Everyone from Adam and Eve, to Abraham and Sarah, to Jacob, Esau, Rachel, and Leah, to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, to the judges (lots of them), to David, to Solomon (and every other king of Judah, Israel, and the kingdoms that conquered and oppressed them), to the Roman and religious elite of the first century, to Jesus' own students did their best to thwart God's plan for the world. But God didn't just ignore them and move on. Instead, he showed his total love for the world and everyone in it by using humans' failures as springboards into greater demonstrations that there is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from him.

Today, I'm thinking of my role as a researcher, a student, a mentor, a leader, and a friend. I fail at each of those things every time I attempt them. But history (both my own, and the world's more broadly) has shown that each failure is already redeemed for a greater purpose. Every failure is fuel for the hope and the future God has planned for us. Everything we do, say, think, and believe will work together for the good he has in store for us.

Now, I pray for you to enter today boldly, not fearing failure, but prepared to do the things you're called to do, knowing full well you will never apparently succeed on your own merits, but resting in the fact that your every action is already redeemed by God for his love.